Foot-ball bucking-strap.



NO. 829,580. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. FLG. FOLSOMI. FOOT BALL BUOKING STRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1905.

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THE NORRIS FETSRS co WASHINGTDL n c ing foot-ball players to carry the ball without I two straps or devices 5 are UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. FRED GORHAM roLso OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

FOOT-BALL BUCKING-S-TRAP- No. 829, 580. Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed September 5, 1905. SerialNo. 276,933.

Patented. A113. 28, 19,06.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED GORHAM' FOL- sOM, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Boul-:er, 1n the county of Boulder and invent-err certain new i and useful Improvements in Foot-Ball Buck ing-Straps; and I do declare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theacoompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in I foot-ball bucking-straps, my object being, first, to provide a means of teaching, drilling, l and practicing foot-ball playersin that part of the game of foot-ball known as line-bucking, second, to provide means of teaching, drilling, and practicing foot-ball players to watch and take properly the openings or holes in an opposing line through which they are to run; third, to provide means of trainbe graspedby two persons who aid the player in'his work. I When the device is in use, the two straps 5 are held taut by the assistants and in a vertical'position-that is to say, one directly above-the other, approximately. Applied about centrally to the two devices 5 are two transversely-located parts 7, which are preferably about twelve inches apart. These parts 7 occupy a transverse position, and their extremities are secured to the two parts 5, preferably by lacing. For this purpose the parts or devices 5 may each be provided with a series of openings or eyelets, through which the lacing-cords 8 may be passed and by virtue of which the parts 7 are adjustable onthe parts 5, whereby their distance apart or the space between them may be varied at will. By the use of these parts 7 a sort of centralframe or collar is formed in the device, aving an opening 9 of sulficient size to allow the head of the player to protrude therethrough, but not large enough to allow his shoulders to pass. The devices 7, as well as the parts 5 between the extremities of said devices, are padded, as shown at 10, to prevent the person under training from injuring himself during his work. The devices 5 may be'provided with springs or elastic parts 12 on' opposite sides of the padded frame 9. (See Fig. 1 of the drawings.)

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 3 a suitable support for the opposite extremi ties of the bucking-strap, other than persons, is illustrated. This support consists of posts 13, to which are attached brackets 14, upon which are mounted horizontal and vertical pulleys 15 and 16. To each handle 6 of the bucking device is attached a cord, rope, or cable 17, which engages both pulleys 15 and fumbling; fourth, to provide means of training foot-ball players to hold and become stron on their feetwhile carrying the ball, I and, ifth, to provide means of training for 1 players of this class of the above-mentioned arts or practices without any of the dangers oraccidents incident to such training by means of an actual scrimmage or game.

Having set forth the objects of my invention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which igure 1 is an elevation of my improved deviceas it appears inuse. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified form of construction.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

eferring first more especially to Figs. 1 and 2, let the numeral 5 designate each of two flexible devices composed of any suitable material, as leather, rope, canvas, elastic, or any suitablednaterial sufficiently strong to answer the purpose, and of any convenient length, preferably about ten feet long. These suitablyseparated, l being placed, preferably, about fifteen inches apart. The opposite extremities of these devices are attached to handles 6, adapted to being weighted, as shown at 18. In order to hold the bucking device in its proper or normal position with devices 5 occupying a vertical plane, it is preferred to apply an additional weight, as a bag of sand 19, to the lower extremity of each handle, it being unwith the'upper portions of the handles. It is evident there are many other ways of supporting the bucking-strap in such a manner that when in use the extremities of the strap will yield sufliciently to prevent the person under training from becoming injured.

The manner of operating the device is as follows: A person or other suitable support I placed at each end of the apparatus or at 16, its extremitles remote from the handle I derstood that the cords 17 are connected each of the handles 6 holds the apparatus in ing at a proper height from the ground, preferably about three feet, at a distance from the player equal to that taken by an oppos- The persons or supports holding the strap by the handles 6 resist the players attempted ain and hold back on the strap against which the player has bucked and is pushing. Tlloile supports 13 may be either fixed or porta e.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A foot-ball bucking apparatus composed of strong, flexible bands and having a centrall -located padded collar, or frame,

rovided with an opening of suflicient size to allow the head of the person under practice to pass through, and adapted to engage and resist the passage of the shoulders, and extensions attached to the opposite sides of the' collar or frame, each composed of separated bands, and a transverse member connecting the outer extremities of the two bands.

2. A football bucking apparatus composed of strong, flexible bands, suitably separated and having handles at their extremities, the said bands being provided with transverse separated parts applied thereto intermediate the extremities of the bands, the said parts being padded and the portions of the bands between the parts also padded, whereby a sort of cushioned collar, or frame,

a vertical plane, the uppermost devlce 5 beis formed having an opening of sufficient siz'c to allow the head toprotrude but not large 'eno'ugh to allow the shoulders to pass through.

i 3. A device of the class described, comosed of two separated flexible bands, each of which is provided with an elastic portion the said bands being provided intermediate their extremlties wlth a padded cushion collar, or frame, having an opening of sufficient size to allow the head of a person to pass through but arranged to prevent the passage l of theshoulders. 4. A device of the class described composed of two flexible, separated bands, handles secured to the extremities of the bands, means connected with the handles whereby the device is yieldingly supported in a substantial vertical position, the central portion of the device being provided with a collar or frame having an opening of sufficient size to allow the head of a person to pass through, but adapted to prevent the passage of the shoulders.

5. A foot-ball bucking device provided with a collar or frame having an opening of suflicient size to allow the head of the person under practice to pass through, and adapted to prevent the passage of the shoulders, the said device having extensions on opposite sides of the collar each extension consisting of parallel members having their outer extremities suitably connected. for the purpose I set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED GORHAM FOLSOM. Witnesses:

HARRY P. GAMBLE, HORACE BURBANK HOLMES. 

